Over the following weeks Hermione and I practised dancing most evenings in the same classroom as the first time. But as we went around the castle we were distinctively more affectionate towards each other. Often holding hands between classes and sitting snuggled on the couch in the common room in the late evenings after dance practice. Unfortunately Ron was not ignorant of this change in our behaviour and we could both see him getting steadily redder and more frustrated day by day.
The day before the dance was when it came to a head. Me and Hermione were just finishing off our dance practice. I was now pretty sure that I was not going to stand on her feet tomorrow and that I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of the whole school.
"Well done Harry, you have really come along" she said as we broke apart.
"Well I have had a good teacher" I said. I leant in and kissed her lightly. The familiar tingling sensation shot through my lips at the contact. But this time it was different. I snaked my arms around her back and squeezed her to me. But then my lips froze and I felt someone else in the room. There was a shimmering from the far corner of the room. I let Hermione go and inclined my head towards the anomaly. We were just drawing our wands from our pockets and about to move forwards when it disappeared, to be replaced by a lanky boy with bright red hair a scowl on his face and a drawn wand.
"Ron, what the hell are you doing here?!"
Ron just nodded to Hermione without saying anything and aimed his wand at me. I was frozen for a second. But I became unfrozen when I saw his lips begin a spell.
"Expelliarmus!" I yelled and Ron dived to the side to avoid the spell and he cast his own one.
"Conjunctivitis" he called and I fell back with a searing pain in my eyes. Then I heard Hermione's voice add to the fight.
"Finite Incantatam" she said and my eye's stopped their burning. I started to stand as Hermione started her assault on Ron.
"Stupefy" she called while trying to back away from the furious red-head.
"Protego" Ron rebuked and Hermione's spell rebounded into the wall and caused a banner to fall from its place. Ron ducked to avoid the falling decoration, which left him open to Hermione's next spell.
"Petrificus Totalus" Hermione called and Ron stiffened instantly.
"What the fuck was that about!?" I fumed as Ron toppled backwards and thudded to the ground.
"I don't know Harry" she snapped at me. Then her face softened slightly as the hurt at her outburst must have shown on my face.
"Sorry Harry, but I don't know any more than you about this" I nodded at this and turned to the frozen form on the ground.
"What are we gonna do with him?" I asked.
In answer Hermione walked over to the prostrate body. She picked up a piece of the fallen banner pole and held it in one hand. Then she pointed her wand at Ron's body with the other.
"Finite Incantatam" she said, and Ron immediately loosened and sat up.
"You basta..." was all he could say before Hermione brought the banner pole down on his head and he slumped in an unconscious heap.
"Well that works" I said when Hermione had checked to make sure he was still alive.
"Pick him up Harry" she told me and I complied.
"Where too?" I asked.
"The hospital wing" she replied.